Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-08

statement
's1-hen what is IL you do wish me tc
says' asked Vernon a little imDatient-
Is, it must be confessed for lie was
both surprised and ANNOYED at this sud.
den and unlocked for display Of jeal-
oiisy.
You should say that am the only
woman You ever really loved said
foolish Mildred, as ii any man ever
reached the age of forty without hav-
ing love affair Of some sort.
1T would be wrong for me to make
such an assertion. since il woald be
telling you an untruth, said Vernon.
grayeiy. Mildred. do you want me to
say that didn't love Helen?' he asked,
in low, panied voice
Mildred was stubbornly silent.
Because, il you do you are not the
sensible woman have believed you fc
be, he said. his dark. handsome face
growing pale and stern.
Zone can love but once. There car
be no second lovei' said Mildred, hot
ly.
II this is your belief, you should have
remembered ii when / asked you &C
marry me. /" said Vernon, coIdly, pa
cling the floor.
A spirit Of pervirsity prompted MI
dred to say:
ut would have saved me much pain
and perhaps a lifetime Of regret had J
remembered it
Mildred. and Vernon stopped in
his rapid walk and took bar hands in
close clasp, you can't mean what
you have just saidl Say yon were moi
IN earnest unless you want to make me
miserablel''
lyon can't be more miserable than
| ara. said Mildred. with 4 little sob
Il have been the happiest man in the
world for four months-until to-day, -
said Vernon. quickly.
Il suppose the homecoming has Civ
en- you unpleasant thoughts, said
Mildred. who was in perfect pass on
Of unreasonable jealousy and anger
| You have given me unpleasant
thoughts. rctorted Vernon, losing pa
thence, and speaking in qnick. angry
voice Mildred answer me truly, are
| you sorry you married me?"
IL am simply what it is to be second
wifer said Mildred. bitterly.
You are angry and unreasonable
| just now" said Vernon. quiteiy. though
he had grown white to his lips. when
| you are calmer. perhaps. you viii take
| more sensible view of the matter =
| and dropping her hand, he abruptly
/ quilted the room.
| When they met at dinner both were
moody and reserved. vet frigidly polite.
though beyond few commonplace re.
| marks no words were exchanged.
The meal over. without glance al
| her husbands face. Mildred retired to
| her room, while Vernon. making no ef-
fort 20 follow her, lit cigar and left
| the house.
Days and weeks passed Thus. Mildred
too angry and stubborn 10 confess her.
self in the wrong. Vernon too proud
| to intrude where he believed he would
be unwelcome. Either purposeIy OF
through neglect. the p cinre and books
were not removed. and Mildred with.
out consulting her husband. quietly
took possession of room in tho south
wing of the house. and male no furthe.
| illusions to her wrongs whether fanci.
| ed or real
Vernon spent the evenings in the
room his wife had vacated and it was
| small comfort to Mildred to know that
4
| rounded with mementoes of his lost
Helen. Even her picture IS dearer tc
him than | can ever hope to be - she
told herself, bitterly, when on crossing
the hall, one evening. she saw her hus
band standing before the portrait, hi.
| face wearing a strange. absent look.
Vernon was too deeply hurt at bis
| wife's GOODNESS to notice that she was
daily growing thinner, and that her
| eyes were constantly dim with unshed
tears Pride, anger. and bitter resent
ment were raging in his heart. and he
| stubbornly refused to believe that Mil
dred was longing for a reconciliation.
With the obstinacy Of one who believe:
| himself deeply injured. he determined
that Mildred should be the one to break
down the barrier her own hand hac
raised.
In these long days and weeks Mil
| bred was fast learning the sad trutl
that each added hour of coldness and
silence was drifting them further
apart. and she shuddered at the
thought of what the end might be. ''OuI
| marriage was wretched mistakei'
she said to herself. one night. wher
Vernon with careless kiss aud good
| night had gone out, and she realized
that another long. lonely evening wa:
before her. What miserable farce il
isH' she exclaimed aloud. this ex
change of polite greetings. these colo
caresses that mean nothing! Why
should we trouble ourselves to blint
the world to the bitter truth? Sooner
or later it will be found out. He i,
happier when away from me. and | an
miserable in this house. Why should
stay here lonely and unhappy night af
ter night, when they want aud miss me
so at kone? ] will not bear it another
DAY." she added, passionately, sud
den determination coming too her
born of her anger and loneliness
Throwing aside the book she had been
pretending to read. she donned cloak
and hat, and, Notwithstanding the late
ness of the hour. hurriedly left tht
| house.
rs Mr.. Vernon out of town that vol
have condescended to paw ME visit;
Surely you didn't walk and it raining
and almost dark?'' and Miss Lay has
tened TO remove NJ ldred's wet cloak
why, A1illyr with glance at the
white. set face, ''have YOU been crying
Is ANYTHING wrong?' and her face that
at sight of Mildred had dimpled al
over with smiles, instantly grew sober.
Mildred sank into chair before the
cosy fire while Miss Law established